Seating assembly

ABSTRACT

A seating assembly  10  having a pair of armrests  12, 14;  a footrest  20;  a backrest  30,  and a seat portion  24  which may each be independently and selectively moveable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a seating assembly and moreparticularly to a seating assembly which may be selectively and axiallymovable, which has a pair of substantially identical arms which are eachselectively movable from a first respective extended position to asecond respective raised position, and which has a selectively rotatableseat portion, and which further includes a selectively foldablefootrest.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A seating assembly is operatively deployed within a wide variety ofenvironments in which it is necessary or desirable to allow individualsto occupy a seated position. For example, within a watercraft, such as aboat, it is desirable to allow an individual to occupy a seated positionwhile operating the boat and it is further desirable to allow thewatercraft passengers to respectively occupy seated positions while theyare within the confines of the watercraft.

Importantly, in order to provide an overall comfortable seatingexperience, it is highly desirable to allow the providing seatingassemblies to be selectively adjustable and such selective adjustabilityis also desired to facility collaboration and desired activities of theoccupants within the seating environment. Moreover, such desiredadjustability should be provided in an efficient and cost effectivemanner.

Current seating assemblies do not adequately provide a full range ofdesired adjustability and do not provide desired adjustability in a costeffective manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a first non-limiting object of the present invention to provide aseating assembly which overcomes all of the previously delineateddrawbacks of prior seating assemblies.

It is a second non-limiting object of the present invention to provide aseating assembly which overcomes all of the previously delineateddrawbacks of prior seating assemblies and which, by way of example andwithout limitation, has a pair of independently and selectively movablearms.

It is a third non-limiting object of the present invention to provide aseating assembly which overcomes all of the previously delineateddrawbacks of prior seating assemblies and which, by way of example andwithout limitation, has a seating portion which is selectivelyrotatable.

It is a fourth non-limiting object of the present invention to provide aseating assembly which overcomes all of the previously delineateddrawbacks of prior seating assemblies and which, by way of example andwithout limitation, has a seating portion which is selectively andaxially moveable.

It is a fifth non-limiting object of the present invention to provide aseating assembly which efficiently and cost effectively provides desiredadjustability and articulation and which includes, by way of example andwithout limitation, a selectively foldable footrest and which may beselectively locked into a desired position.

According to a first non-limiting aspect of the present invention, aseating assembly having two independently and selectively movable armsis provided.

According to a second non-limiting aspect of the present invention,seating assembly having a pair of substantially identical,independently, and selectively movable arms and further having aselectively rotatable seat is provided.

According to a third non-limiting aspect of the present invention, aseating assembly a seating assembly having a seat which is selectivelyand axially movable is provided.

According to a fourth non-limiting aspect of the present invention, aseating assembly having a seat including a footrest which is selectivelyfoldable from a first closed position to a second open position, isprovided.

According to a fifth non-limiting aspect of the present invention, aseating assembly is provided with a selectively reclinable seat back andwhich further may be selectively locked into place.

According to a sixth non-limiting aspect of the present invention, aseating assembly is provided which includes a concealed movementmechanism which allows for the selective movement and locking of boththe arm rests and the seat back portion.

According to a seventh non-limiting aspect of the invention, a seatingassembly is provided which includes multi-tooth locking mechanism formovement of the seat portion and multi-tooth locking mechanism for eachof the arm rests.

According to an eighth non-limiting aspect of the present invention, aseating assembly is provided and which includes a selectively moveablebooster and a selectively moveable footrest.

According to a ninth non-limiting aspect of the present invention, aseating assembly is provided which may be selectively configured in aplurality of separate functionalities to achieve a plurality ofobjectives.

These and other features, aspects, objects, and advantages of thepresent inventions will become apparent from a reading of the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention,including the sub-joined claims, and from a review of the followingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seating assembly which is made inaccordance with the teachings of the preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is top “cut-away” view of the seating portion of the seatingassembly which is shown in FIG. 1 and which is taken along view line“2-2”.

FIG. 3 is a partially expanded view of a portion of the seating assemblywhich is shown in FIG. 2 and which is shown in view area “23”.

FIG. 4 is a view which is similar to that which is shown in FIG. 3 butwhich is selectively rotated in accordance with the teachings of thepreferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the portion of the seating assemblywhich is shown in FIG. 2 and which is taken along view line “5-5” andwhich shows selective movement of this portion in a first direction.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the portion of the seating assemblywhich is shown in FIG. 2 and which is taken along view 6-6 and whichshows selective movement of this portion in a second direction

FIG. 7 is a partial view of the seating assembly which is shown in FIG.1 and taken in the direction of view arrow “7”.

FIG. 8 is a partial side view of the seating assembly shown in FIG. 1taken in the direction of view arrow “8”.

FIG. 9 is a view of the portion of the seating assembly which is shownin FIG. 8 and taken in the direction of view “9”

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring initially now to FIGS. 1-9, there is shown a seating assembly10 which is made in accordance with the teachings of the most preferredembodiment of the various inventions.

Particularly, seating assembly 10 includes a pair of substantiallyidentical and opposed arms or arm rests 12, 14 which are eachrespectively, independently, and selectively movable along respectivearcs 16, 18; a selectively movable bolster portion 20 which isselectively and independently moveable along arc 22; a seat portion 24which is independently and selectively rotatable along arc 26; and aback portion 30 which is selectively and independently and axiallymovable (i.e., selectively reclinable) along arc 32. The seat portion 24is further selectively and independently moveable in the directions 215,217.The selective and independent movement of portions 12, 14, 20, 24,and 30 allows an occupant of the seating assembly 10 to be comfortableand to be able to selectively articulate within an overall environment(such as within a boat or watercraft) to a desired location and in adesired position.

In this regard, the base plate 126, of the seating assembly 10 (which isperhaps best shown in FIG. 2-5) is bolted or otherwise secured to thefloor or other portion (such as a pedestal) 400 of an interior of a boator to the floor or other portion of the environment in which the seatingassembly 10 is operatively deployed. Further, it should be appreciatedthe term “independent”, as used in this description and referring to aportion 12, 14,20,24,30 means that these portions respectively andselectively move independently of the other portions 12, 14, 20, 24, and30. Such independent movement allows the seating assembly 10 to beselectively articulated in a wide variety of desired positions.

A more detailed description of the two substantially identical arms orarmrests 12, 14 will now ensue. That is, each arm rest 12, 14 has arespective wide and flat top portion 50 which is adapted to support anarm and/or beverage and/or various other items which may be utilized byan occupant of the seating assembly 10. Each top portion 50 is coupledto a respective angular support member 9. Further, as is best perhapsshown in FIGS. 1, 5,6, arm rest 12 (the following discussion is equallyapplicable to arm rest 14 since arm rest 12 and arm rest 14 aresubstantially identical), includes a base portion 41 (which issubstantially similar to base portion 43 of the arm rest 14). Arm rest12 is movably coupled to base portion 41 by a gear mechanism 200.Similarly, arm rest 14 is movably coupled to base portion 43 by asubstantially similar gear mechanism 61 to that of mechanism 200. Thebase portion 41 is coupled to the seat portion 24 by rail 3 (which issubstantially similar to rail 11 which couples base portion 43 to theseat portion 24) rails 3 and 11 may be configured as desired and each ofthe rails 3, 11 are respectively coupled to the base plate 126 and rail3 coupled portion 41 to plate 126 while rail 11 couples portion 43 toplate 126.

Through the upper portion of the base portion 41, which is distal fromthe rail 3, is disposed an axle member 73 upon which is in a parallel orhorizontal relationship to rail 3 and upon which is operatively disposeda first gear 60 having a plurality of substantially identical teeth 64and a pawl 66 which is coupled to spring assembly 68 which normallybiases the surface 69 of the pawl 66 against the teeth 64, therebyfixing the armrest 12 in the operative position which is shown in FIG. 1with the flat base portion 50 deployed generally parallel to the seatportion 24. The spring assembly 68 moveably couples the pawl 66 to thesupport member 9 and to the gear 60. The gear 60 is circular and has acenter opening 7 which frictionally receives the axle 73, thereby fixingthe gear 60 upon the axle 73. Particularly, the spring assembly 68couples the pawl 66 to the support member 9 just above the gear teeth 64and distal from the base 41. The gear mechanism or ratchet assembly 200includes the axle 73, spring 68, teeth 64, and the pawl 66.

To selectively move the arm rest 12, along a clockwise direction alongthe arc of movement 16, the lever portion 71 of the pawl 66 is lifted inthe direction 75, thereby forcibly disengaging the surface 69 fromengagement with the plurality of teeth 64, thereby allowing the supportmember 9 of the arm rest 12 to be moved along a clockwise directionalong the arc 16. When the lever portion 71 is released, the springassembly 68 automatically (without the need for further userintervention or action) moves the surface 69 in an engagementrelationship with the plurality of teeth 64 and thus automatically fixesthe position of support member 9 of the arm rest 12 in whatever positionthe arm rest 12 was most recently moved to when the lever 71 wasreleased. The gear 60, axle 73, lever 71, pawl 66, and spring member 68cooperatively form a first ratchet assembly or gear mechanism 200. Inthis manner, the arm rest 12 is normally and automatically placed in afixed position. It should be realized that the gear assembly 200 doesnot prevent the movement of the arm rest 12 in the counter clockwisedirection along the movement arc 16 because the gear 60 does not preventsuch movement.

Arm rest 14 is similarly and selectively moved in substantially the samemanner as explained above with respect to arm rest 12 but by use of aseparate and second gear or ratchet assembly 61 which is substantiallysimilar to this previously explained first ratchet assembly and an axlemember 39 which is substantially similar to axle member 73. In thismanner, each arm rest 12, 14 are independently and selectively movablewith respect to the remainder of the seating assembly 10.

Further, a generally circular bearing 79 is deployed upon the axlemember 73 between the first gear 60 and a gear 82 which operativelyforms a part of a third ratchet assembly 80 and the bearing 79 reducesfriction between the selectively and independently moveable gears 60, 82and may be made from a polymer type of material.

Particularly, this third ratchet assembly 80 includes this gear 82having a plurality of substantially identical teeth 84, a springassembly 88, and a pawl 86. The gear 82 frictionally receives andresides upon the axle member 73 which traverses both gear members 82 and60. The pawl 86 is coupled to the seat back flange portion 59 by thespring assembly 88 which normally biases the surface 94 of the pawl 86against the plurality of teeth 84, thereby fixing the seat back portion30 in a desired position. When it is desired to selectively move theseat 30 to a different position, along a counter-clockwise direction 210of arc 32, then the lever portion 98 of the pawl 86 is moved in thedirection 99, thereby selectively allowing the back portion 30 to beselectively and independently moved in a counter-clockwise direction,along directional arc 32 because teeth 84 are disengaged from surface94. In an alternate and non-limiting embodiment of the invention, thethird ratchet assembly 80 may alternatively and operatively beoperatively coupled to the portion of the seat back portion 30 which isclosest to the base member 3; that is, the side 3 of seat back portion30. It should be appreciated that seat back portion 30 may be movedalong the clockwise direction of arc 32 without disengaging the pawl 86from the teeth 84. Alternatively, other gear mechanisms could be used incombination with the arm rests 12, 14 and seat back portion 30 whichallow for restricted movement in both the clockwise and counterclockwise direction and with restricted movement in any single desireddirection. It should be appreciated that the use of “multi-teeth” gearsto facilitate selective movement of the arm rests 12, 14 and seat backportion allow for fine incremental movement and stronger position and anoverly secure locking mechanism to comply with American Boat And YachtCouncil (ABYC) Safety Standards. The use of a lot of small teeth allowsfor small incremental movement. A fourth ratchet assembly, which issubstantially identical to this afore described third ratchet assembly80 may be deployed upon axle 39.

Each of the three ratchet assemblies used to respectively facilitate theselective movement of the arm rests 12, 14 and seat back portion 30 havegears, panels and springs which are concealed from view and aretherefore “pocketed” or “covered”. That is, (in one non-limitingembodiment, ratchet assemblies 200, 80 are operatively placed between aunique pair of portions 9 and 59) and the ratchet assembly 61 (and thefourth ratchet assembly (if utilized)) is similarly hidden betweenunique pairs of portions 9 and 59, thereby allowing for an overallaesthetically pleasing appearance; protection from environmental damageor degradation (e.g., sea salt); and a safer assembly because thesecomponents do not touch the operator and occupants.

With respect to the selective movement of the bolster 20, reference isnow made to FIGS. 1 and 7. As shown, the bolster portion 20 has asupport portion 23 which is coupled to at least one arm 102, and the arm102 which is coupled to the member 11 by a removable pin 106, therebyallowing the bolster 20 to selectively move along the directional arc22, and such movement is independent of the movement of portions 12, 14,24, and 30.

The bolster 20 when fully moved in the clockwise direction alongmovement arc 22 will have a portion 213 which will selectively engageand be frictionally received by a a latch spring 219 which willfrictionally hold portion 213 thereby holding the bolster 20 in anupright position that allows the holster 20 to be easily dislodged andlater selectively moved counterclockwise along arc 22.

Referring now to FIG. 1, 8, 9, there is shown a footrest portion 250which includes a foot engagement portion 252 and a bracket 254 which iscoupled to rails 3, 11. The portion 252 is pivotally coupled to eachopposed side of the brackets 254 by a respective pin 260 therebyallowing for desired movement of the portion 250 along arch 270. Whenthe portion 252 is selectively expanded, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, thefeet of the user (the one seated in seat assembly 10) may be supportedby the portion 252.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, it should be appreciated that in the mostpreferred (although non-limiting) embodiment of the invention, theseating portion 24 includes a generally flat and lower frame member 36(which is normally bolted to a floor 400) and which has a generallycircular opening 37 within which a generally circular gear 122, having aplurality of substantially identical perimeter positioned teeth 124 isdeployed. In one non-limiting embodiment, the flat body of the gear isbolted to the plate 36 by bolts 500. Other security techniques may beutilized. Rail members 3 and 11 may be welded, bolted, or otherwisesecured to plate 126.

The seating assembly 10 further includes an upper frame member 126 whichhas a generally circular opening 130 which frictionally receives thegear 122 and which movably resides upon the lower frame member 36 andwhich is adapted to selectively rotate with respect to the lower framemember 36.

In one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the frame members 36and 126 are coupled by the gear 122 which is seated within each of themembers 36, 126. Other coupling strategies may be employed.

Movably deployed upon the upper frame member 126 is a pawl or gearlocking member 530 having a lever portion 132 and a tooth engagingportion 134 which is complementary to the shape and size of theplurality of teeth 124. That is, portion 134 has a plurality ofindentations 135 which are each adapted to receive and engage a selectedand single one of the plurality of teeth 124.

In one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a channel 140 is formedin the gear locking member 530 and upon the under surface 142 of themember 126 (e.g., upon the surface of the member 126 which is proximateto the lower frame member 36) are deployed a pair of substantiallyidentical pins 142, 144 which are coupled to the lower frame 36. Thesepins 142, 144 extend into the formed channel 140 and constrain themovement of the member 530 in the directions 215, 217. The pins 142, 144cooperatively allow the member 530 to selectively and reciprocally movealong within the channel 140 in a manner which will now be described.

That is, when the member 530 is moved forward (toward the back portion30 and in direction 215) then the portion 134 engages a selectedplurality of teeth 124 and fixes the seating portion 24 at a certainlocation. When the selective member 130 is moved away from the gear 122(in direction 217), then the seat portion 24 may be selectively rotatedalong movement arc 26, independently of any movement of any of the otherportions 12, 14, 20, and 30. This movement occurs because portion 126 isallowed to selectively rotate with respect to plate 36. That is, suchselective rotation occurs by forced movement of the top frame member 126around the gear 122 and thus the top frame member 126 is allowed toselectively rotate with respect to the bottom frame member 36, therebycausing the seat portion 24 (and the assembly 10) to selectively rotatesince the portion 24 is coupled to the frame member 126.

When the seat portion 24 is moved to a desired location, then the member130 is returned to its normal position in which a selective plurality ofteeth 124 are engaged by portion 134. In the most preferred, althoughnon-limiting embodiment of the invention, the member 130 is normallybiased against the gear 122 by use of the spring member 150 which iscoupled to a member 152. The member 152 is coupled to a handle 155 whichextends from the seat portion 24 and when the handle portion 155 isstationary, the spring 150 causes force to be applied by the member 152against the member 130, effective to move the portion 134 of the member130 against the teeth 124 of the gear 122 and thereby fixing theposition of the top frame member 126 with respect to the bottom framemember 36 and fixing the position of the seating portion 24 When it isdesired to selectively rotate the seating portion 24, the handle member155 is moved in the direction 160, thereby forcibly counteracting thenormal biasing force of the spring 150 and causing the portion 134 tobecome disengaged from the teeth 124.

As is shown best in FIGS. 2-4, the seating assembly 10 may be axiallymoved in directions 215, 217 by the use of motor 174, gear boxes 180,182, and arm assemblies 177, 179 which are respectively coupled to gearboxes 180, 182, and to the portion 24. A power supply, such as a battery350, is coupled to the motor 174 and provides electrical energy to allowthe motor 174 to operate, and a switch 310 is also coupled to the motor174. Threaded rods 240, 242 are respectively coupled to gearboxes 180,182 and to platform 126. The axial movement is described within U.S.Pat. No. 6,499,712, owned by the Assignee of the present Application andwhich is fully and completely incorporated herein by reference.

Thus, when it is desired to move the seating assembly 10 in the axialdirection 215, the switch 310, which is coupled to the motor 174, ismoved to a first direction, effective to cause the motor 174 to rotatein a first direction which causes the threaded rods 240, 242 to rotatein a clockwise direction and thereby move the seat assembly 10 towarddirection 217. When the switch 310 is moved to a second direction, themotor 174 rotates in a second direction which is counterclockwise andthis causes the threaded rods 240, 242 to rotate in a counterclockwisedirection, effective to move the seating assembly 10 towards direction215. In this manner, the seating assembly 10 selectively moves indirections 215, 217.

In one non-limiting embodiment, a detent 420 is deployed upon the plate126 and a detent 304 is deployed upon plate 36 and openings 602, 601,are respectively formed upon plates 126, 36. The detent 420 entersopening 601, and the detent 504 enters opening 602 engage if the plate126 rotates beyond a certain amount, thereby preventing undesiredrotational movement. Alternatively, the openings may be obviated and thedetents 420, 304 may be adapted to engage to prevent undesired rotation.

In a second non-limiting embodiment, the seating assembly 10 may bedynamically configured and built to order. Example, in one non-limitingconfiguration only one arm rest 12 may be provided and in anothernon-limiting embodiment there may be no rotation of the seat portion 24and no need for plate 126 or gear 122. Thus, each of the afore describedfunctional entities may be placed into a final seat assembly or left outat the design of the user and the seating assembly 10 is thereaftermodular. Moreover, by using a relatively large number of teeth on eachof the afore described gears, fine incremental movement may be achievedwith respect to each of the arm rests 12, 14, seating portion 24; andportion 30.

It is to be understood that the present inventions are not limited tothe specific embodiments which have been disclosed above, but thatvarious changes and modifications may be made to them without departingfrom the spirit and the scope of the claims as they are set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is: 1) A seating assembly having a pair of independentlyand selectively movable arms wherein each of the said arms may berespectively moved to and locked within a respective plurality ofpositions. 2) The seating assembly of claim 1 further comprising a seatportion which is coupled to each of said selectively movable arms andwhich may be selectively rotated to and locked within a plurality ofpositions. 3) The seating assembly of claim 2 further comprising afootrest portion which is selectively retractable and which is coupledto said seat portion. 4) A seating assembly comprising a first platehaving a first circular opening; a second plate which resides upon saidfirst plate and which has a second circular opening in communic actionwith said first circular opening; a gear which resides within each ofsaid first and second circular openings and which includes a pluralityof teeth which are disposed upon the perimeter of the said gear, whereinsaid gear couples said first plate to said second plate while allowingsaid second plate to rotate with respect to said first plate; a firstmember which is movably disposed upon said first plate and which ismovable from a first position in which said member engages said gearthereby preventing said movement of said second plate upon said firstplate, to a second position in which said member is remote from saidgear thereby allowing said movement of said second plate upon said firstplate; a second member which engages said first member and whichnormally biases said first member against said gear; and a seatingportion which is disposed upon said first plate. 5) The seating assemblyof claim 4 further comprising an arm rest which is operatively coupledto said seating portion and which may be selectively moved to and lockedwithin a plurality of positions. 6) The seating assembly of claim 5wherein said arm rest comprises a flat top portion and a ratchetassembly which couples said flat top portion to said seat portion andwherein said ratchet assembly includes an axle which is coupled to saidseat portion; a second gear having a plurality of teeth which residesupon said axle; a pawl which is coupled to said flat top portion andwhich has an engaging surface which engages said plurality of teeth; anda spring assembly which couples said pawl to flat top portion and whichbiases said engaging surface against said plurality of teeth. 7) Theseating assembly of claim 6 further comprising a second ratchet assemblywhich including a third gear which is disposed upon said axle andwherein said second rotated assembly allows said seat portion to bemoved to and locked with a plurality of positions. 8) The seatingassembly of claim 7 wherein said second and third gear are hidden fromview. 9) The seating assembly of claim 7 further comprising a boosterportion which is selectively movable from a first extended position to asecond loaded position. 10) A method for building a seating assemblycomprising the steps of identifying components of a seating assembly;and building said seating assembly using only said identified componentsthereby allowing for the created seating assembly to be dynamicallyconfigurable.